Free-cooling
Free-cooling is a cooling method that uses low outdoor air temperatures.
If you need to cool technological equipment or industrial production all year round, even at low outdoor temperatures, it is advantageous to use free-cooling equipment from the point of view of electricity consumption. Cool water is provided – thanks to the outdoor air and the low energy consumption of the fans – almost for free!
There are 3 operating modes:
- machine cooling: a free-cooling unit operates in the same way as a standard compressor cooler at temperatures above 15 °C.
- mixed cooling: outdoor air can remove only part of the thermal load at temperatures from 5 to 15 °C. When the outdoor temperature drops to 15 °C, the control system starts the free-cooling pump in the case of assembled or re-sets the three-way valve in the case of compact one and the water passes through the air/water heat exchangers, placed in series with the evaporator, thereby reducing its thermal load.
- free cooling: if the outside temperature is low enough, the air/water heat exchangers can carry away the entire heat load without the compressors having to run.
* The switching temperature of free cooling depends on the desired outlet temperature of the cooled liquid